Botswana Internship Programme 2026: How to Register and Apply
Quick answer: To join the Botswana internship programme, you must be an unemployed citizen graduate under 35. Submit the Internship Application Form with a certified Omang copy, certified qualifications, a CV and an official transcript to the Department of Employment Services. Processing takes about 30 working days, and placements last up to two years.
Key takeaways
The programme is open to unemployed Botswana citizens under 35 who hold a college or university qualification.
You apply with the Internship Application Form plus a certified Omang copy, certified qualifications, a CV and an official transcript.
Government says processing takes around 30 working days, depending on whether a placement slot is available.
Interns can be placed for a maximum of two years and become eligible for a monthly allowance once their Confirmation Form is submitted.
The official service page does not publish the allowance amount, so confirm it directly with the Department of Employment Services.
Last updated: 3 October 2026
The Botswana internship programme gives unemployed citizen graduates a structured way into the world of work. Run today by the Department of Employment Services, it places graduates with host organisations for up to two years so they can build practical skills and a track record that employers trust. If you finished your diploma or degree and have not yet found a job, this guide explains who qualifies, which documents to prepare, how the application moves from form to placement, and what is known about the allowance.
Who qualifies for the Botswana internship programme?
You qualify if you are an unemployed Botswana citizen under 35 with a graduate qualification. Those three conditions, citizenship, age and a completed tertiary qualification, are the core eligibility rules on the government service page.
When the scheme began in 2009, it was aimed at out-of-school youth aged 20 to 35 holding a certificate, diploma or degree, according to a United Nations youth policy case study. The upper age limit of 35 has stayed in place. If you are already in permanent employment, you are not the intended applicant: the programme exists for graduates who need their first workplace experience.
What documents do you need to register?
Prepare five items before you submit the Internship Application Form. Incomplete paperwork can hold up an application, so put everything in one folder first.
Certified copy of your Omang (National Identity Card).
Certified copies of your academic qualifications, such as your diploma or degree certificate.
Curriculum vitae that is current and lists your contact number clearly.
Official transcript from your institution.
Completion letter, but only if your transcript does not show your completion status or date.
An older government page for the earlier National Service and Internship scheme also asked for academic or professional references. They are not on the current checklist, yet having a referee ready does no harm when a host organisation asks.
How to apply for the Botswana internship programme step by step
The process runs in a set order, from your form to a phone call offering a placement. Here is how it works according to the Department of Employment Services.
Submit the application. Complete the Internship Application Form and hand it in with your supporting documents.
Keep your reference number. You receive an acknowledgement letter carrying a reference number. Store it safely, because you will need it whenever you follow up.
Wait for a matching slot. Host organisations send enrolment requests to the department, which then matches graduates to openings.
Answer the phone. Once a placement is secured, the department calls you, so keep the number on your form active.
Complete the Return Slip Form. This is the next step once a placement has been offered.
Sign the Performance Contract Form. Your progress during the internship is tracked against it.
Submit the Confirmation Form. After it is lodged, you become eligible for the monthly allowance.
Processing is quoted at about 30 working days, but the department notes this depends on slot availability. When few slots are open, the wait may be longer.
How long does a Botswana internship last?
A placement lasts for a maximum of two years. Within that period, you have some flexibility to move or leave.
StageWhat the official process says Processing timeAbout 30 working days, depending on available slots Maximum placementTwo years Transfer to another hostPossible after three months Leaving earlyExit and Reinstatement forms are available as needed AllowanceMonthly, once the Confirmation Form is submitted
The UN case study noted that interns could choose to exit at any time once they found employment. That remains the goal: the internship is a stepping stone, not a destination.
How much is the Botswana internship allowance?
Interns receive a monthly allowance, but the official service page does not publish the amount. The safest approach is to confirm the current figure directly with the Department of Employment Services before you plan your budget.
Treat unofficial figures with caution. Ask the department what the allowance is, when the first payment arrives after confirmation, and whether it changes under the reforms described below.
What is changing under the revamped internship programme?
Government is reshaping the scheme to give interns better conditions and more routes into jobs. In July 2025, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Major General Pius Mokgware launched nationwide consultations on a revamped National Internship Programme, BOPA reported.
He outlined several reforms:
Formal contracts for interns, intended to secure safety, respect and basic support during attachments.
International placements, with government saying it will send some interns outside Botswana and is working on partnerships to identify opportunities abroad.
More private sector placements and greater opportunities for permanent absorption by host employers.
The minister also set out expectations for interns themselves. "The Internship Programme is not just about keeping you busy because you do not have a job," he said, stressing punctuality and delivering work on time. For applicants, that means treating the placement like a real job from the first day.
These reforms were announced at the start of consultations in July 2025, so ask the department which of them are now in effect when you apply.
Common mistakes that delay internship applications
Some delays depend on slot availability, but others are avoidable. Check this list before you submit.
Uncertified copies. Plain photocopies of your Omang or certificates are not enough; get them certified.
No transcript or completion letter. If your transcript lacks a completion date, attach the letter from your institution.
A dead phone number. The placement offer comes by phone, so a changed or switched-off number can cost you a slot.
Losing the reference number. Without it, following up takes much longer.
Paying "agents". No fee is listed anywhere in the official process. Anyone selling a guaranteed placement is likely a fraudster.
Botswana internship contacts: where to get help
Contact the Department of Employment Services in Gaborone for forms, follow-ups and allowance questions. These are the official channels listed by government:
Address: Government Enclave, Block 8 Building, Private Bag 354, Gaborone
Telephone: +267 3165006 or +267 3104224
WhatsApp: +267 71810127
Email: desinfo@gov.bw (alternative: desinfobw@gmail.com)
Office hours: weekdays 07:30–12:45 and 13:45–16:30, closed on public holidays
If you live outside Gaborone, in places such as Francistown, Maun or Serowe, start with the phone or WhatsApp line to ask where to hand in your form, rather than travelling first.
What this means for you
For graduates still searching for a first job, the internship programme is one of the clearest routes to workplace experience. Since its launch it has placed thousands of young people: more than 10,000 had been placed by the time of the UN review, which also recorded around 1,340 absorbed into permanent posts. Register early, keep your documents certified and your phone on, and use the placement to build skills and contacts that lead to permanent work. While you wait, keep applying for vacancies, because accepting an internship does not stop you from taking a permanent job when one comes.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for the Botswana internship programme?
The programme is for unemployed Botswana citizens under 35 who hold a graduate qualification from a college or university. You must be out of work when you apply, and the government service page lists citizenship and the age limit as the main conditions.
How long does it take to get an internship placement?
The Department of Employment Services gives a processing time of about 30 working days. That figure depends on whether a suitable placement slot is available, so some graduates wait longer. You will receive a telephone call once a placement has been found.
How much is the internship allowance in Botswana?
Interns become eligible for a monthly allowance once the Confirmation Form is submitted after placement. The official service page does not state the amount, so ask the Department of Employment Services directly rather than relying on figures shared on social media.
How long can I stay on the internship programme?
A placement lasts for a maximum of two years. Interns can request a transfer after three months, and there are separate forms for exiting the programme or being reinstated.
Can I apply for the internship programme by WhatsApp or email?
The department lists a WhatsApp line (+267 71810127) and the email address desinfo@gov.bw for enquiries. Use these to ask about forms and the status of your application, and follow the instructions you are given on how to submit.
Do I have to pay to join the Botswana internship programme?
The official process does not list any application fee. Anyone who asks for money to speed up or guarantee a placement is likely running a scam, so report them and deal only with the Department of Employment Services.
Sources
Graduate Internship Programme, Government of Botswana (Department of Employment Services)
National Service and Internship Program, Government of Botswana
Government to revamp internship programme, Daily News/BOPA (24 July 2025)
The National Internship Program (Botswana), UN ESCAP Youth Policy Toolbox
This article was compiled by Jobsiz from the sources listed above, with AI-assisted writing and automated fact-checking. Published 3 October 2026. We update stories when new verified information becomes available.